Comments on: One Part Faith, Seven Parts Doubt-A Recipe to Reduce Faith and Maintain Doubt

By: Jared

Jared — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:23:18 +0000

Adamf-I’m trying hard as well. I like that phrase, “How’s that workin’ for ya?”. It says a lot.

And the answer to that question is why I decided to blog. When I apply the gospel, or even try to apply gospel principles I find that it works great. All this is true, the message of the Book of Mormon is right on. My family never taught me the gospel, the Lord left the ninety and nine and came and rescued me from certain destruction. I don’t want to disappointment Him. He gave, and continues to give me what the scriptures promise.I can hardly believe the things he has done in my life. I am blown away by His mercy and grace. I desire to be a TBM and wish you the same. Thanks for your comments and the blogs you post at MM.

By: adamf

adamf — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 06:11:07 +0000

I agree–and I have been trying harder lately to focus more on activities that will lead to the results I want.

I’m not a huge fan of Dr. Phil but when he says “How’s that workin’ for ya?” it rings true and practical. And even the Dalai Lama talks about this, in the sense that positive action leads us to happiness, and negative action to suffering.

By: Jared

Jared — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:59:02 +0000

Hi adamf,

Thanks for coming by and leaving your comment. In my experience, which of course forms my opinion, there are many ways to be active in the Lord’s church, but the bottom line is: are we getting results? The Lord seems to always define results as receiving the manifestations of His Spirit at some level, a testimony to begin with and conversion being the next step.

I hope your concept of balance leads to the results the Lord tells us we need to experience in order to have the Holy Ghost active in our life.

By: adamf

adamf — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:50:22 +0000

This idea is something I have tried to incorporate into my personal life, in addition to what I blog about. I.e. keeping a balance between reading the scriptures and participating in other things church-wise that I love and have blessed my life, with other things that are troubling or in the very least just plain more intellectual.

By: Jared

Jared — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 14:59:44 +0000

Gwennaelle–I’m sorry, I just saw your comment this morning.

You pose a good question. In my opinion there are many who sincerely desire to know the answer to their question. They are seeking with sincere hearts. They are faithful. However, others appear to enjoy focusing on doubt and may not, at least for the present, want to find an answer to their question. They prefer to limit or lay aside their faith. It seem to me that they are professional doubters.

The scriptures teach that we need to yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, if we do, we progress and move on, if not, then we are resisting the spirit and stagnate or plateau. (Mosiah 3:19, Alma 32:28, Alma 10:6).

Questioning is good if we’re faithful, but questioning can also be used to decrease faith (1 Timothy 6:4, 2 Timothy 2:23, Matt 22:35)

Thanks for your question. I hope my comment turns out to be helpful.

By: Gwennaëlle

Gwennaëlle — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:56:07 +0000

Just a question: do you think that they doubt for the sake of it or do you think there is an intend behind it.
The few blogs I have read that could fit in your description are not intended to me to doubt in order to be more “political correct” but I think that they are genuinly trying to sort out things in order to have a more enlightened knowledge of the gospel. They may pushing it and I understand your feeling. I read once a post that I thought was almost sad, it felt like the author (to me) was absolutely beside the point on his subject since it lacked something important even if he was trying to rationalize the subject: his testimony.
My view on it is that they don’t doubt as a goal but as a mean. I could be wrong )

By: Jared

Jared — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:04:07 +0000

You say it well Tim.

I hope those who are professional doubters will realize their potential and will put their efforts into building the kingdom of God up. Most of them are capable, talented individuals with influence and could do a world of good for the Saviors cause.

Thanks for the links.

By: Tim Malone

Tim Malone — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 02:44:49 +0000

You nailed it Jared. Your observations are right on. I have noticed the same thing as I travel around the Bloggernacle. I wonder why that is. I have found very few LDS bloggers whose specific intent is to promote faith. Some that I like are S.Faux at Mormon Insights and Bryce Haymond at Temple Study and of course, yours.

I wonder if these professional doubters realize what they are doing. I would hate to sit in a High Priest’s Group meeting or an Elder’s Quorum with a bunch of these guys. Every effort to bring the spirit in to the meeting would probably be met with scowls and claims that they are being manipulated. What do their wives think of their doubting attitudes?

Is there something in the doubter’s book of rules that makes it sissy to exercise faith and to believe without fully understanding all the intellectual ramifications of faith? I am certain that this has been a problem since the beginning of the church. I have especially noticed it in my recent studies of the reformation period of early Utah history 1856-1858.

I especially liked your last line about resolving doubts. There is something about my personality that does not like doubt or fear. I base this on D&C 6:36 – “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not,” and D&C 67:3 – “…there were fears in your hearts, and verily this is the reason that ye did not receive.”

However, we know that there must needs be opposition in all things. Maybe these doubters are causing the believers to become more vocal or to write more in defense of the truth. It is sad to read the doubting comments cloaked in the guise of intellectualism within the online LDS community.

That is one of the major reasons I don’t participate in many of the LDS group blogs – too much doubt and faultfinding, especially of he Lord’s anointed. I like the solo bloggers who are trying to make a difference with their faith and testimonies sincerely shared like yours. Thanks for your essays. Keep up the good work.